Pandora DCB Jun. 2014 | Page 20

OPINIONS RACE TO CRIME BY VIOLET TAN From Oscar Pistorious, the Paralympic track star who murdered his girlfriend; to Michael Nunn who ruined his boxing career distributing cocaine; to Colorado Avalanche goalie Seymon Varlamov who got arrested for physically assaulting his girlfriend; athletes appear to be committing more and more crimes. Whilst sports apologists may say that this only appears to be happening due to the rise of social media and media coverage, according to the ESPN Sports Zone Poll 83% of the public believes that both college and pro athletes are committing more criminal acts as opposed to 25 years ago. So why do these crimes happen? Aren’t these people our role models and inspirations? Why are they crushing the perfect image we conjured them up to be? On the other hand the problem cannot simply be placed on the athletes alone. Many athletes continue to transgress the law regardless of the ‘pu